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Stephens College freshman Ava Whitaker has loved music and theater for as long as she can remember. Her passion for the arts motivated her to not only enroll in Stephens but to also select Musical Theater as a major.

Stephens College freshman Ava Whitaker has loved music and theater for as long as she can remember. Her passion for the arts motivated her to not only enroll in Stephens but to also select Musical Theater as a major.

“I always loved doing theatre,” Whitaker said. “I loved Stephens from my first campus visit. I knew this is where I wanted to be.”

Whitaker’s talent and musical training solidified a third-place finish at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Regional Student Auditions. During the audition competition, held virtually this year, students from Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri submitted video recordings of three contrasting songs from the musical theatre canon. Students not only had the opportunity to compete, but to also receive professional feedback on their performance.

Three first year students and one third year student from Stephens entered the competition. Whitaker placed third overall in the College Women’s category.

“I wasn’t thinking about winning or losing. I’m a freshman, so I didn’t expect anything to come of it,” Whitaker said. “I submitted my recording to get exposure and an outside critique of my skills,” Whitaker said.

Whitaker’s audition consisted of a piece from the musical Ghost, a piece from On the Town, and the final piece was Say the Word.

Whitaker was recognized on the NATS website and received a cash prize for her third-place achievement. Her win continues Stephens’ students achieving success in vocal competitions.

“We have a history of sweeping the finals in the musical theatre division,” said Pam Ellsworth-Smith, Associate Professor of Voice, Stephens College Conservatory for the Performing Arts and Whitaker’s voice instructor. Ellsworth-Smith recommended the Say the Word piece to Whitaker. “Ava was able to show a range of standards and voice and deliver the intent and character of the story. Students get that training from Stephens College.”

Whitaker will compete in spring 2022 on the national level.

“Theatre is my favorite way to express myself. I’m an introvert. Performing allows you to be all the things you want to be. The focus is not on you, but on the song,” Whitaker said.

See Ava’s rendition of Say the Word here.

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